Panasonic ES35V or Toshiba DR5?

[kitty]

I'm in the market for a good component DVD Recorder to replace the GoVideo VR4940 I have now that isn't working well.

I have read about the top 3, etc.

I cannot find anything on the Samsung DVD-VR330. It supposedly will record -+ on all media including dual layer + and -. $249 at Target, probably other places.

The Toshiba D5 also looks very good as it also includes upconversion and I could use that as my dated Philips 711 was out before recorded media were common and it is very picky.

Wisdom appreciated. The Kitty

[vhelp]

Well, last I read (during my forum travels) the Toshiba D5 as not as good
as the D4 model in terms of quality. But, because quality is subjective
at best, mileage varies from user to user. But, I usually base my own
opionion by reputable members here. A member, Ejai had done a number of
tests using both D4 and D5, and in the end, bumped down to the D4 model.
He's gone through a few models *and* brands, and has (seemed) to reach
a comfortable stage of choice.. the Toshiba D4 was his final choice.

You can read some of experience here:

--> Toshiba DR5...At First Glance

Now, there is also the JVC DR-M10, which at the moment, is a favorite of
mine. But only because I have seen various demo results from this unit
and they all pleased me greatly, in terms of quality. I think that the
DR-M100 and variants (M100S and M100SL) are similar units, and you might
be able to get away with the assumption that they all return the same
quality results.

However, I'm not sure about the DL support for any of these units. I had
not paid much attention to that support. Mostly because the price is still
too high for the medias and there are still problems to iron out w/ DL
everything.

-vhelp 3924

[kitty]

D5 adds the upconversion if I have read right. I might sacrifice some quality for that.....

Seems there is no DL upconverter yet so I'll have to decide if upconverting or DL is more important. The Toshibas and the Samsung have caught me eye though.

[samijubal]

Samsung products have serious reliability issues. My sister has a Samsung DVD recorder and she sent me a few discs burned on it, my JVC player freezes at every chapter and my Panasonic recorder pauses then skips forward every chapter, the D-R4 actually plays them. I don't know about the D-R5, but the D-R4 is hands down the best recorder I've used out of Panasonic, JVC, Pioneer, Toshiba.

[trhouse]

The Panasonic DMR-ES25 and ES45V both have HDMI and upconvert. The ES45V is in stores now, the ES25 is avaibable in Canada but not in the US yet. Both can record to -DL and +DL. I have been testing an ES35V. The -DL and +DL ability does not allow copying a title continously though the layer change. The first layer must be closed before recording to the second. A new title is created on the second layer.

[DupMJ23]

I just bought the DR5 and have had good results so far converting vhs to dvd. I have only made 3 transfers. I have it connected HDMI to a hd set. It looks great and the transfer was flawless.
So far so good, I give it my rec.

[kitty]

Thanks all, I think the Samsung is being crossed off the list.

Lots seem happy with the Toshiba DR4 but the DR5 has upconvert when the DR4 doesn't right?

As far as Panasonic, Target carries the DMR-ES35V - can't find much on that model.

[trhouse]

I did tests and photographed the insides of the ES35V on this thread but it is the ES45V that has HDMI.

http://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=279460

Results for the DR4 are there as well.